“Whatever you do, do not hate. I don’t hate. Hate will ruin your life”
Zigi Shipper BEM (left) and Frank Bright at the AJR Holocaust Memorial Day event, 23 Jan 2020 © Adam Soller Photography
Survivor of the death camps Zigi Shipper BEM (British Empire Medal) was one of the key speakers at the Association of Jewish Refugees’ (AJR) Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration at Belsize Square Synagogue last Thursday, with the theme ‘Stand Together’. He is passionate about the vital Holocaust education work for which he was awarded the BEM and proud of his children and grandchildren, who are continuing the work. Judi Herman was privileged to be invited to Zigi's Hertfordshire home to speak to him and his wife Jeanette, and to hear more of his story and some of Jeanette’s too. As well as sharing the horror of his experiences, there was laughter from the life affirming Zigi, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday.
The Windermere Children, which Zigi mentions, airs tonight (27 Jan) on BBC2 at 9pm and will then be available on BBC iPlayer. Find out more about what the BBC have programmed to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on the JR blog.